Line stretcher



July 14, 1964 J. H. PENLAND LINE STRETCHER Filed Aug. 10, 1962 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. PENLAND ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,140,521 LINE STRETCHER Joseph H. Fenland, 110 Cateechee Ave., Greenville, S.C. Filed Aug. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 216,183 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-134 This device relates to line stretchers for use in tightening lines such as those used by brick masons, carpenters and the like.

Various devices have formerly been used for fastening such a line in place. For example, a brick mason after pulling his line taut preparatory to laying a course of bricksmay fasten his line toa device supplied especially for that purpose. Such fastening devices include camming devices of various kinds for gripping the line as well as such simple expedients as a nail for attaching the line thereto. However, no satisfactory device has been supplied to meet the need with regard to the stretching of the line preparatory to fastening. The present practice of pulling such lines by hand results in considerable wear on the hands, and it is difficult to get the line sufficiently tight to lay relatively straight courses of bricks or otherwise to accomplish its purpose.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a line stretcher which may be carried in the hands of the user and easily engaged with a line to stretch same prior to fastening the line.

Another important object of the invention is to make it possible to stretch a tighter line than has been possible by hand alone to make possible the construction of structures which are more nearly true or straight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line stretcher making it possible to easily, accurately and quickly stretch a line without injuring the hands of the user.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation illustrating a line stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 2--2 in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation illustrating a line stretcher constructed in accordance with a modified form of the present invention.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment and a modification of a device for stretching lines such as those used 'by brick masons, carpenters and the like. This includes an elongated body A adapted to be held longitudinally of the line in the hand of the user. A transverse pin B is carried by the upper portion of the body intermediate the ends of the body. A link C, carried by the pin, depends therefrom for free pivotal movement with respect to the body within a cavity within the body. An arcuate serrated surface D is carried by the depending end of the link. An elongated longitudinal abutment E, which forms one side of a line channel, presents a flat surface opposed to the arcuate serrated surface of the link. The abutment acts as a stop engaging the serrated surface limiting pivotal movement of the link in one direction so that the serrated surface of the link confines the line against the abutment when the body is moved in a direction to wedge the line between the serrated surface and the abutment to stretch the line and at the same time tighten the grip exerted by the serrated surface on the line. Means F is provided to move the link C to cause engagement and disengagement of the line.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be noted that the elongated body A has back and front portions 10 and 11, respectively, and arcuate top and bottom portions 12 and 13, respectively. The top and bottom portions are preferably knurled as illustrated in the drawing or otherwise provided with a good gripping surface for the hand of the user. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the body A has solid end portions 14 and 15, and is preferably constructed of a hard plastic material.

Intermediate the ends 14 and 15 and in the upper portion of the body A, a pin B has a fixed transverse mounting within the body A. The pin B has a link C depend ing therefrom to pivot freely thereon within a cavity 16 which permits a suitable range of pivotal movement of the link C. The link C carries an arcuate serrated surface D.

It will be noted that the link C is not permitted to pivot beyond dead center of the pivot B because of its engagement with a stop in the form of the abutment E. The abutment E defines one side of a slot 17 which is longitudinal of the body A. The serrated surface D of the link C extends into the slot and into engagement with the line L. When the stretcher is pulled to the left in FIGURE 1, the line L is engaged between the serrated surface D and the abutment E. Since the link C does not pivot beyond dead center, the more pull exerted on the stretcher, the more gripping force is exerted beyond the line L.

The link C is provided with means F for moving the link so as to engage or disengage the freely pivoted link C. Such means as illustrated includes a knurled knob 18 carried by a pin 19, which passes through an arcuate slot 20 within front face 11 of the body which is open to the cavity 16. The pin 19 has fixed connection as at 19a with the lower portion of the link C.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG- URE 3 in which like parts are designated by like reference characters with prime notations added. It will be noted that the cavity 16' has been moved to a position adjacent the left-hand side 14' of the body A and has an opening 21 through the side 14' to permit means F in the form of a link 22, connected to the link C, to pass therethrough to engage and disengage the serrated surface D with the line L. It will be noted that the link C, the pin B and associated parts have also been moved to a position within the cavity 16'.

It is evident that the surface D, while it is preferably serrated, may be otherwise abraded or suitably constructed to permit a gripping force to be exerted thereby upon the line L. While the various parts have been described herein with respect to their position in the drawing it is evident that they may assume other positions in use; for example, the device may be used in upside down position.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

A device for stretching lines such as those used by brick masons and carpenters and the like including, an elongated body adapted to be held longitudinally of the line in the hand of the user having a base, a flat back portion extending vertically from said base, a top portion extending outwardly from said back portion and, a flat front portion fixed to the top portion extending vertically downwardly overlying the flat back portion of the body in spaced relation thereto so as to define a cavity within said body, a transverse pin carried upon the front and back portions of the body adjacent the top portion, a

link carried by the pin depending therefrom for free pivotal movement with respect to the body within said cavity, an arcuate serrated portion carried by the depending end of the link, said front portion terminating closely adjacent the arcuate serrated portion when in clamping position, an elongated longitudinal abutment formed by the upper portion of the base presenting a flat surface op posed to the arcuate serrated portion of the link carried by the body, said abutment being spaced below said front portion in vertical alignment with the front portion and With the serrated portion and together with the lower portion of the front portion defining an open longitudinal line channel into which the cavity opens to receive the depending end of the link, said abutment acting as a stop engaging the serrated portion limiting pivotal movement of the link in one direction, a handle carried by the link extending externally of the body for urging the link about its pivot point to release the gripping force exerted on the line, and arcuate gripping portions for accommodating the hand of the user carried by the upper and lower portions of the body, whereby the serrated portion of the link confines the line within the channel against the abutment when the body is moved in a direction to wedge the line between the serrated portion and the abutment to stretch the line and at the same time tighten the grip exerted by the serrated portion on the line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,802 Pitney Mar. 25, 1884 749,318 Morris Jan. 12, 1904 1,503,567 Wallis et al Aug. 5, 1924 1,518,850 Hume Dec. 9, 1924 2,607,095 Maasdam Aug. 19, 1952 3,091,207 Songer May 28, 1963 

